-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- The Spanish title race is shaping up to be one of the closest in years -- and the battle for the `` Pichichi '' is also hotting up .

While Atletico Madrid matched the 1-0 victory by league-leading city rival Real on Saturday , Diego Costa kept in touch with Cristiano Ronaldo at the top of the La Liga scoring charts by emulating the world player of the year 's decisive strike .

Ronaldo 's first-half winner at Malaga meant Real will head into next weekend 's `` El Clasico '' clash with defending champion Barcelona holding a three-point advantage over second-placed Atletico .

It was his 25th goal in the league this season and 39th in all competitions , with Ronaldo firing home in trademark style after cutting into the penalty area from the left following a crossfield pass from Gareth Bale .

Ronaldo missed several other chances , and his collision with teammate Karim Benzema resulted in the France striker going off injured .

`` We had chances to score the second goal but unfortunately we were n't able to get it and then when the score is 1-0 you always suffer , '' said coach Carlo Ancelotti .

`` It was n't a great game in terms of how we played , but we showed good attitude and were very solid defensively . ''

Brazil-born Costa , hoping to win a World Cup place this year with his adopted Spain , netted for the 22nd time in the league -- and 30th overall -- as he broke clear of the visiting Espanyol defense 10 minutes after halftime and coolly beat the keeper .

The Madrid clubs are moving clear of Barca , who are seven points behind Real ahead of Sunday 's home clash with Osasuna .

Lionel Messi has won the Pichichi Trophy for the past two years , but is 10 behind Ronaldo after an injury-hit season so far . The Argentine is not even Barcelona 's top scorer in the league -- that honor goes to Chile 's Alexis Sanchez , who has 16 .

In Saturday 's other matches , Celta Vigo won 1-0 at fellow midtable side Levante while Rayo Vallecano moved three points clear of the relegation zone with a 3-1 win over second-bottom Almeria .

German Bundesliga

Champions Bayern Munich moved 23 points clear at the top of the table with a 2-1 win at home to fourth-placed Bayer Leverkusen , meaning coach Josep Guardiola could win his first league title with the club next weekend with eight matches to spare .

Goals from Mario Mandzukic and Bastian Schweinsteiger helped the European champions shrug off the midweek jailing of club president Uli Hoeness for tax evasion , as Stefan Kiessling 's late consolation could not prevent Bayern 's 16th successive league win .

Second-placed Borussia Dortmund suffered a 2-1 home defeat by Borussia Monchengladbach , and Jurgen Klopp 's team will surrender the title race if more points are dropped next weekend .

Schalke , who moved up to third with Friday 's 2-1 win over Augsburg , must also win to stop Bayern clinching a second successive title -- and 24th overall .

Dortmund 's defeat meant Schalke closed to within a point of their rivals ahead of the derby clash on March 25 .

Italian Serie A

Inter Milan moved up to fourth place with a 2-0 win at Verona , thanks to goals from Argentine forward Rodrigo Palacio and Brazilian defender Jonathan .

It was the third win in a row for Walter Mazzarri 's side , but Fiorentina can reclaim the Europa League berth by beating Chievo Verona on Sunday .

French Ligue 1

Third-placed Lille missed a chance to close the gap on Monaco in second after being held 0-0 at home by Nantes .

Monaco travel to fifth-placed Lyon on Saturday , while champions Paris Saint-Germain will seek to extend an eight-point advantage at the top against fourth side St. Etienne .

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Cristiano Ronaldo scores winner at Malaga to maintain Real Madrid 's lead

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Rival Diego Costa also scores only goal of match for second-placed Atletico

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Bayern Munich march closer to a 24th German Bundesliga title

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Inter Milan 's European hopes boosted by third successive Serie A win